Cyber police officials have issued a warning about a rising digital scam involving mobile call forwarding codes in cities across Maharashtra. The method is being called the Call Forwarding Scam and it focuses on tricking people into dialing short codes that begin with numbers like 21 or 401.
Scammers usually call the victim pretending to be from a telecom company or SIM service provider. They claim there is a network issue, service upgrade or special offer. The victim is then told to dial a specific code to verify or activate the service. Once the code is dialed, all incoming calls on the victim’s phone are silently redirected to the scammer’s phone. This allows the criminal to receive banking one time passwords and monitor communication without the victim realizing it.
Due to the call being forwarded, every OTP linked to bank or UPI transactions goes directly to the fraudster. In many cases victims only notice the fraud after their bank accounts show unauthorized transfers. Officials explain that criminals can also impersonate the victim during financial calls and gain access to confidential banking activity.
Investigators highlight four major risks linked to this scam. Fraudsters can steal financial OTPs. Victims no longer receive incoming calls. Scammers can trick contacts by pretending to be the victim. There is also a major privacy risk because the criminal gains access to call logs and banking messages.
A cyber police officer stated, “Residents have reported that scammers pose as mobile company officials or government representatives, asking them to dial a code for updates or offers. Once you comply, they control your phone.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Shivaji Pawar urged people to act quickly if they suspect fraud and guard the first hour after detection. He said, “If you are defrauded through call forwarding, immediately contact cybercrime.gov.in or call the national helpline 1930.” Quick reporting can help freeze transactions before the money is moved out.
To avoid falling victim, citizens are advised to never dial codes shared by unknown callers. They can check if forwarding is active using *#21#. They can disable all forwarding using ##002#. Telecom customer support can also verify services. In case of any suspicious account movement the bank must be informed at once.
Cyber police say several people have already lost money and the method is spreading rapidly.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
